Argentina - How to visit Iguazu Falls, what to see/do in a day, and how?

I wish to visit Iguazu Falls, will be arriving IGU airport in the late afternoon, hoping to stay at the Sheraton, and will be there two nights. This leaves one full day.

1st: I assume it's easy to take a taxi to the Sheraton from IGU? I've read here on FT that it shouldn't be a problem, correct?

2nd: I'd like to see and do as much as possible in my one full day, what is recommended to see and do it all? I'd like to visit both sides, Brazil and the Argentina sides. Are there recommended tours? Do I pre-book such tours in advance? What should I not miss?

All information is greatly appreciated, thanks!

I covered this in my recent trip report:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/argentina/1289231-fabulous-trip-argentina-uruguay-20-days-nov-dec-2011-a.html

Here is what I said about Iguazu:

Our Iguazu experience could not have been more perfect
beginning with an almost exactly on time and very nice Austral flight.
HOTEL: Sheraton Iguazu. Yes, the moment you enter the hotel and see the falls in the background, you feel the high room price is worth it! Our "falls view" room #242 was very nice and it truly was incredible to wake up to that view!
We arrived at the hotel in time to have the park to ourselves from 5p-6p and walked the "inferior" (lower) trail.
Absolutely amazing experience and so nice to have it practically all to ourselves at that hour - again, it makes it worth paying the high price of the hotel.
After dinner in the Sheraton dining room we went to their outdoor terrace to listen to the falls
and look at the stars. Our bar waiter gave us the most helpful information for touring the next day
which we followed (see below).

Day 13 - IGUAZU: ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL
The included breakfast buffet was the best of our trip.
Because we were Sheraton guests, we had the park to ourselves from 8am-9am and we walked
the "superior" (upper) trail. Then we caught the train (about 15 min ride) out to the La Garganta del Diablo.
This was the first place we encountered lots of crowds and it is very hot as the trails are not shaded.
Came back and bought tickets AR$125pp for the zodiac into the falls!
You have to go back down the inferior trail route and then hike down to the boat. It is a 20 minute speed boat right into the falls and we got soaking wet!
Even though we had already checked out, the Sheraton was very nice to let us use their spa bathroom to change into dry clothes.
At 2pm our prearranged Sol Iguazu tour showed up to take us to the Brazilian side of the falls.
We had gone through the hassle and expense to get the Brazilian visa and we were not disappointed.
They were definitely spectacular in their own way!
We probably paid way too much by booking this ahead of time and could have just booked a remise to take us over to the Brazil side. But no regrets, it was an incredible day.
HOTEL: El Jardin de Iguazu. The staff, pool area, location are wonderful. Our room #110 was the smallest of the trip but fine for one night.
DINNER: El Quincho del Tio Querido - very fun and busy restaurant with music.

P.S. no problem getting a taxi from IGR to Sheraton

I wish to visit Iguazu Falls, will be arriving IGU airport in the late afternoon, hoping to stay at the Sheraton, and will be there two nights. This leaves one full day.

1st: I assume it's easy to take a taxi to the Sheraton from IGU? I've read here on FT that it shouldn't be a problem, correct?

2nd: I'd like to see and do as much as possible in my one full day, what is recommended to see and do it all? I'd like to visit both sides, Brazil and the Argentina sides. Are there recommended tours? Do I pre-book such tours in advance? What should I not miss?

All information is greatly appreciated, thanks!

As noted, you are officially required to have a Brazilian visa to cross over. Not sure how carefully they are checking now, it is worth asking more recent visitors if you don't have one. When I was there 2 years ago, you simply avoided going into the Brazilian border post and rode the bus straight through to the Brazilian side.

It is doable in one day, but one and a half or two would be better.

You don't really need to book a tour, just get to the park and hike around. You can get there either on bus or via taxi. As the post above mentions, the boat trip under the falls on the Argentine side was a highlight, but you will be soaked completely.

We had to go through TWO check points going into and out of Brazil.
I have no idea how you could avoid that.
We went through the hassle and expense of getting the Brazilian visa
and did feel it was worth seeing the falls from the Brazil side. Very different.

I think you could probably email the Sheraton and ask them to set up a remise to take you to the Brazilian side. They were very responsive to my emails.

We had to go through TWO check points going into and out of Brazil.
I have no idea how you could avoid that.
We went through the hassle and expense of getting the Brazilian visa
and did feel it was worth seeing the falls from the Brazil side. Very different.

I think you could probably email the Sheraton and ask them to set up a remise to take you to the Brazilian side. They were very responsive to my emails.

When I took the bus across the river, you were required to officially exit Argentina at their side. At the Brazilian side, the bus stopped, but almost no one got off to be "officially" admitted to Brazil. The bus then drove on to Foz. This is how all the guidebooks, word on the street from other travelers, etc. advised at that time. On the way back, didn't stop at the Brazil side, had to be readmitted to Argentina.

As I say, I have heard that they may have gotten more stringent lately. To avoid disappointment, get the visa. If you don't have time to get the visa, it is possible that the laxity at the border still exists and you could get across anyway- would appreciate input from more recent visitors!

I will be landing midday on Sat and then leaving early morning Tuesday. This gives me most of Sat, Sun and Mon. Is this too much time? I am only going to be on the Argentinian side and can not do the visa to Brazil. Is this too much time at Iguazu and should I change it to Sun to Tuesday so I can spend an extra day in Buenos Aires?

Thanks.

It's really up to you.

It's a place where if you like being amongst nature you can spend a week just walking the paths and taking it all in. I would love to go back and spend more time there in a more relaxed frame of mind.....especially in the quieter parts. We had two full days and seemed to rush everything seeing both sides as well as bit of the forest. Although due to the hotel being crap I was glad to leave to be honest.

If you have good accommodation then I see no point in rushing it.

Does anyone have any experience driving around the area? I will be staying at the Sheraton for 2 nights in August with my 6 year old son. We are arriving at IGU and a 2 day rental car from there will only cost me about $60 for the 2 days. I figure this is cheaper than a taxi to and from the hotel. Plus I would like to go over to the Brazilian part of park for a few hours. From what I read it seems like an easy ride.

I covered this in my recent trip report:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/argentina/1289231-fabulous-trip-argentina-uruguay-20-days-nov-dec-2011-a.html

At 2pm our prearranged Sol Iguazu tour showed up to take us to the Brazilian side of the falls.




Trying to figure out timing on a tight schedule. Leaving Sheraton at 2pm for Brazilian side did you actually have enough time there to see everything that you wanted to see?

I am going to be staying in Puerto Iguazu and would either be able to visit Brazilian side in the afternoon after landing in IGR at 1pm or in the morning of my departure with latest flight out of IGR being at 345pm. I am thinking it would be best to go morning of my departure first thing in the morning but would love to get an idea how much time I would actually get to have on Brazilian side of the falls and if I would be able to make my flight at IGR.

If you want a bit of a wild west experience, I also suggest exiting the Brasilian side and hitting up Paraguay. Only time in the world I've been offered automatic weapons for sale, seen large bales of drugs being smuggled over the border, etc. I got a Paraguay visa in advance, and the Paraguay authorities looked at me like I was nuts when I actually went into the booth to check into the country. At the time, enterering from Brasil, they had no interest in talking to you, or knowing why you were coming in....

If you want a bit of a wild west experience, I also suggest exiting the Brasilian side and hitting up Paraguay. Only time in the world I've been offered automatic weapons for sale, seen large bales of drugs being smuggled over the border, etc. I got a Paraguay visa in advance, and the Paraguay authorities looked at me like I was nuts when I actually went into the booth to check into the country. At the time, enterering from Brasil, they had no interest in talking to you, or knowing why you were coming in....

Ok that sounds like fun :) How much time would I need? Looks like I'm booking AR over LAN so I'll have a 7pm departure from IGR on the day I visit Brazilian side. I'd enter Paraguay just to do it but not if it takes away from my time sight seeing.

Ok that sounds like fun :) How much time would I need? Looks like I'm booking AR over LAN so I'll have a 7pm departure from IGR on the day I visit Brazilian side. I'd enter Paraguay just to do it but not if it takes away from my time sight seeing.

I spent 3 hrs or so there and it was more than enough. Of course, I didn't do any, ahem, shopping...

Leave a bit of time for Brasil on the way back....they are a bit curious why you went to Paraguay, and there might be a few Real fine...

We had to go through TWO check points going into and out of Brazil.
I have no idea how you could avoid that.
We went through the hassle and expense of getting the Brazilian visa
and did feel it was worth seeing the falls from the Brazil side. Very different.

I think you could probably email the Sheraton and ask them to set up a remise to take you to the Brazilian side. They were very responsive to my emails.

Will they allow the guests from Iguazu Sheraton to go to the Brazilain side of the falls with out the Brazil visa ?
If so i can contact the hotel to get to the other side.

Great question. Anyone? I want to do a similar trip and am trying to figure out what is easier/more cost effective. Arrive late into IGR: 2 nights in the Sheraton plus a visit to the Brazilian side and dinner in town.

Cheers -

Does anyone have any experience driving around the area? I will be staying at the Sheraton for 2 nights in August with my 6 year old son. We are arriving at IGU and a 2 day rental car from there will only cost me about $60 for the 2 days. I figure this is cheaper than a taxi to and from the hotel. Plus I would like to go over to the Brazilian part of park for a few hours. From what I read it seems like an easy ride.

Great question. Anyone? I want to do a similar trip and am trying to figure out what is easier/more cost effective. Arrive late into IGR: 2 nights in the Sheraton plus a visit to the Brazilian side and dinner in town.

Cheers -

Since my post I PM'd a couple of people who did the drive. The consensus seemed to be it is the way to go. While the signs are not great the route is not diffucult and I have been studying it on Google maps. To minimize the amount of border crossings I will go the the Brazilan side of the falls straight from my arrival at IGR around noon.

My return flight is at 6:30 in the morning so I will allow plenty of time for the border crossing back which I assume will mean I am doing it in the dark.

Since my post I PM'd a couple of people who did the drive. The consensus seemed to be it is the way to go. While the signs are not great the route is not diffucult and I have been studying it on Google maps. To minimize the amount of border crossings I will go the the Brazilan side of the falls straight from my arrival at IGR around noon.

My return flight is at 6:30 in the morning so I will allow plenty of time for the border crossing back which I assume will mean I am doing it in the dark.

$60 for 2 days is an unbelievable rate, a typical car rental down here is $125-150 per day. I expect that you'd have to pay extra in order to have full insurance coverage in 2 countries too.

Crossing the border can take an hour or even two, its especially slow entering Argentina becuase customs is very concerned about people smuggling electronics and drugs into the country.

Do you have a smart phone with GPS? I highly recommend that you bring your own GPS with maps for Brazil and Argentina or get one with your car rental. The roads up there aren't too complex, but they don't post signs the way you're used to in the US.

$60 for 2 days is an unbelievable rate, a typical car rental down here is $125-150 per day. I expect that you'd have to pay extra in order to have full insurance coverage in 2 countries too.

Crossing the border can take an hour or even two, its especially slow entering Argentina becuase customs is very concerned about people smuggling electronics and drugs into the country.

Do you have a smart phone with GPS? I highly recommend that you bring your own GPS with maps for Brazil and Argentina or get one with your car rental. The roads up there aren't too complex, but they don't post signs the way you're used to in the US.

Good to know I got a great rate, just confirmed 63 BRL per day through Hertz. I should not need extra insurance. I read in another thread about the Carta Verde, as long as I stay within 50km of the border I will not need to buy additional insurance. Thanks for the suggestion on the GPS. I was going to get a road map as I am not sure my IPhone will work down there. Might check to see if Hertz has a Neverlost option.

I read the post about the 50km radius too. The post stated that was a Brazilian rental going to Argentina. Any idea if it works the other way too?

Update: driving across to the Brazilian side was no problem. But Paraguay is a no go - big stamp on the rental agreement.

Cheers

Good to know I got a great rate, just confirmed 63 BRL per day through Hertz. I should not need extra insurance. I read in another thread about the Carta Verde, as long as I stay within 50km of the border I will not need to buy additional insurance. Thanks for the suggestion on the GPS. I was going to get a road map as I am not sure my IPhone will work down there. Might check to see if Hertz has a Neverlost option.